There is a general misconception that all alcohol consumption is unhealthy. If you regularly drink in excess, this can be true, but it would be false to believe that the drinking of alcohol is always bad for your health. Science demonstrates that drinking liquor and wine, in moderation, can actually have some health benefits. While a number of different alcoholic beverages fall into this category if it’s not abused, in this article we are going to be taking a closer look at gin and the health benefits this popular liquor can provide.
What Is Gin, How Is It Produced and Why Is It Popular?
Although gin is one of the few clear and transparent liquors on the shelves, it’s different from vodka both in taste and ingredients. For about as long as anyone can remember, it’s been a favourite of the British, but its popularity in Australia has grown and grown over recent decades.
Gin is actually made from plants, also called botanicals. While the manufacture of gin can vary from brand to brand, common elements include citrus peel, juniper berries, coriander, almond and cinnamon. Some suggest that gin is actually a kind of vodka, but with flavours added. Whatever the manufacturing and distilling process is, one of the true advantages of gin is that the ingredients are all-natural and organic.
The reason gin is very popular is because of its taste and the ability to be able to mix it with so many different flavours and blend it into tasty cocktails. Many people enjoy the subtle, calming and relaxing effects gin has on the body and mind.
What Are the Benefits Of Drinking Gin?
Originally, gin was created as a medicinal drink to help ease or cure ailments. It’s quite a well-known fact that brandy has often been used for medicinal purposes, but not as many people are aware that gin originated for this specific reason.
With juniper berries being one of the predominant ingredients in the gin making process, gin can actually have inherent properties that help to fight life-threatening diseases. Why is this so? Because juniper berries contain vital antioxidants that fight against cancer and other ailments. Free radicals are what can cause cancer and other physical conditions and the antioxidants in juniper berries help to fight free radicals in the body.
Gin has actually been rated as one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks you can consume. Not only because of the antioxidant properties of juniper berries, but it’s also quite low in calories. When it comes to drinking gin, heart health and your waistline are both looked after favourably.
It’s also been said that, because of the ingredients that make up gin, that it’s good for losing weight. This is due to gin’s ‘after burn’ effects. In other words, it helps speed up the metabolism, which then helps to burn calories and body fat, even when resting.
Gin can help fight the symptoms of colds, provided it hasn’t been refrigerated. Another suggested health benefit is in the prevention of UTIs (urinary tract infections).
Of course, drinking gin every night and getting drunk on it is not going to be a healthy option, but when consumed in moderation, the elements of gin can be very beneficial as far as your health is concerned.
What Is the Best Way To Drink Gin?
If you decide to buy gin and give it a try, what is the best way to drink it?
Gin and tonic has always been a favourite for many regular consumers of gin, but gin is also the perfect spirit to blend with other spirits and mixers to make delicious cocktails.
Purists will claim that the only true way to drink gin is straight, but that’s for the connoisseur. In fact, gin can be blended with and enjoyed with numerous mixers, making it one of the most versatile spirits on the market today.
For something simple, put some ice in a glass, add a shot of gin and drop in a juicy slice of lime or lemon.
The Wrap
When consumed in moderation, there are a number of health benefits to drinking gin, due to its natural ingredients with antioxidant properties. A shot or two of gin is good for the heart and helps to fight major ailments and diseases.
